Molecular Epoxidation Reactions Catalyzed by Rhenium,Molybdenum, and Iron Complexes

Epoxidations are of high relevance in many organic syntheses, both in industry and academia. In this personal account, the development of rhenium, molybdenum, and iron complexes in molecular epoxidation catalysis is presented. Methyltrioxorhenium (MTO) is the benchmark catalyst for these reactions, with a thoroughly investigated mechanism and reactivity profile. More recently, highly active molecular molybdenum and iron catalysts have emerged, challenging the extraordinary role of MTO in epoxidation catalysis with high turnover frequencies (TOFs). This development is highlighted in its use of cheaper, more readily available metals, and the challenges of using base metals in catalysis are discussed. These results show the promise that relatively cheap and abundant metals, such as molybdenum and iron, hold for the future of epoxidation catalysis.     

不同模板剂合成具有介微结构的ZSM-5分子筛及其甲醇制丙烯性能

分别采用四丙基氢氧化铵(TPAOH),十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)和N-十八烷基-N'-己基-四甲基-1, 6-己二铵(C_18-6-6Br₂)作为模板剂,合成了具有不同介微结构的纳米ZSM-5分子筛(NZ),介孔ZSM-5分子筛(MZ)和纳米薄层ZSM-5分子筛(NSZ).对合成的样品进行X射线衍射(XRD),扫描电子显微镜(SEM), N₂吸附-脱附和氨程序升温脱附(NH₃-TPD)表征,并与传统微孔ZSM-5分子筛(CZ)对比.结果表明,样品的介孔孔容和外表面积大小的顺序为NSZ > MZ > NZ > CZ,强/弱酸之比的顺序为CZ > MZ > NZ > NSZ.在甲醇制丙烯(MTP)反应中,催化剂的介微结构特征影响MTP反应的产物选择性及稳定性,丙烯和总低碳烯烃选择性随着介孔孔容的增加而增加, NSZ样品具有最高的丙烯选择性(47.5%)及总低碳烯烃选择性(78.4%).此外,介孔的引入能适当延长催化剂的寿命,具有适宜酸性质的NZ样品的催化寿命最长(200 h).     

Biodegradable Foaming Material of Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/Poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC)

A biodegradable blend foaming material of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT)/poly(propylene carbonate)(PPC)was successfully prepared by chemical foaming agent and screw extrusion method.First,PBAT was modified by bis(tert-butyl dioxy isopropyl)benzene(BIBP)for chain extension,and then the extended PBAT(E-PBAT)was foamed with PPC using a twin(single)screw extruder.By analyzing the properties of the blends,we found that Young’s modulus increased from 58.8 MPa of E-PBAT to 244.7 MPa of E-PBAT/PPC 50/50.The viscosity of the polymer has a critical influence on the formation of cells.Compared with neat PBAT(N-PBAT),the viscosity of E-PBAT increased by 3396 Pa·s and E-PBAT/PPC 50/50 increased by 8836 Pa·s.Meanwhile,the dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA)results showed that the storage modulus(E’)at room temperature increased from 538 MPa to 1650 MPa.The various phase morphologies(“sea-island”,“quasi-co-continuous”and“cocontinuous”)and crystallinity of the blends affected the spread velocity of gas and further affected the foaming morphology in E-PBAT/PPC foam.Therefore,through the analysis of phase morphology and foaming mechanism,we concluded that the E-PBAT/PPC 70/30 component has both excellent strength and the best foaming performance.     

Mesoporous silica as nanoreactor for olefin polymerization

Various metal-containing MCM-41(Metal-MCM-41) were prepared by the post-synthesis method with organometallic compound or alkoxide and used as a nanoreactor for olefin polymerization. Strong Lewis acid sites generated on Metal-MCM-41 could activate the metallocene catalyst rac-ethylene(bisindenyl)zirconium dichloride (rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂) effectively, resulting in the formation of active sites for polymerizations of ethylene and propylene. This suggests that Metal-MCM-41 is useful as a heterogenized cocatalyst. Ti-, Zr-, Hf-, Mn- and Zn-MCM-41 combined with alkylaluminum (without metallocene catalyst) were also found to provide isotactic polypropylene with a broad molecular weight distribution. By analyzing the characteristics of polypropylenes both inside and outside the mesopores, the polymerization behavior under extreme confined geometry was discussed.     

Highly Effective Propylene Epoxidation over TS-1／SiO2 Hydrothermally Treated

The propylene epoxidation over TS-1/SiO2 catalyst hydrothermally treated was investigated. It was found by EPR characterization that two types of Ti (IV)-superoxide radicals,A (gz=2.0271; gy=2.0074; gx=2.0010) and B (gz=2.0247; gy= 2.0074; gx= 2.0010), were observed for TS-1/SiO2. The superoxo species A converted to B after TS-1/SiO2 catalyst was hydrothermally treated. The results show that over TS-1/SiO2 catalyst hydrothermally treated at 170℃, about 95% conversion of H2O2 with above 94% PO selectivity is obtained during continuous running for 300 h under the conditions of reaction temperature 45℃, 0.5 h^-1 WHSV of propylene.     

Ring‐opening polymerizations of propylene oxide by double metal cyanide catalysts prepared with ZnX2 (X = F,Cl, Br,or I)

Polymerizations of propylene oxide were carried out with double metal cyanide (DMC) catalysts based on Zn₃[Co(CN)₆]₂. Through the control of the type and amount of ZnX₂ (X = F, Cl, Br, or I) during the preparation of the catalyst, the catalytic activity, induction period, and unsaturation level in the polyether polyols could be tuned. The DMC catalysts were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and X‐ray powder diffraction. In general, ZnBr₂ was the most effective zinc halide with respect to the properties of the resulting polymers as well as the activity and induction period. The average rates of polymerizations of DMC catalysts prepared with ZnCl₂, ZnBr₂, and ZnI₂ were 889, 1667, and 784 g of polyoxypropylene/g of catalyst h, respectively, with induction periods of about 53, 5, and 60 min, respectively, at 115 °C. The DMC catalysts produced polyoxypropylenes with an ultralow unsaturation level (0.0025–0.0057 mequiv/g) and a narrow molecular weight distribution (1.07–1.42) without high‐molecular‐weight tails; this resulted in a low viscosity (962–3950 cP). According to the results collected from catalyst characterizations and polymerizations, the active sites of DMC‐catalyzed polymerization had mainly coordinative characters. The presence of free anions accelerated the ring‐opening procedure and thus enhanced the propagation rate and shortened the induction period. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4393–4404, 2005     

Nonisothermal melting and crystallization of polypropylene in model composites: Kinetic analysis

The kinetics of nonisothermal melting and the crystallization of polypropylene (PP) in polypropylene/carbon‐fiber (C/PP) composites were studied by differential scanning calorimetry with the Nedkov and Atanasov method. Characteristic parameters such as the lamellar thickness, the transport energy through the phase boundary, and the surface free energy were determined and analyzed. In nonisothermal melting, the nucleation effect of carbon fibers was confirmed by decreasing transport energy (79 and 41 kJ/mol for PP and C/PP, respectively) and surface free energy (8 × 10^?4 and 7.9 × 10^?5 J/m² for PP and C/PP, respectively). Depending on the carbon‐fiber content, the lamellar thickness changed from 6.7 × 10^?9 m to 9.05 × 10^?9 m. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 66–73, 2005     

Toughness mechanism of polypropylene/elastomer/filler composites

The toughening mechanisms of polypropylene filled with elastomer and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) particles were studied. Polypropylene/elastomer/CaCO₃ composites were prepared on a twin‐screw extruder with a particle concentration of 0–32 vol %. The experiments included tensile tests, notched Izod impact tests, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the elastomer and CaCO₃ particles dispersed separately in the matrix. The modulus of the composites increased, whereas the yield stress decreased with the filler concentration. The impact resistance showed a large improvement with the CaCO₃ concentration. At the same composition (80/10/10 w/w/w), three types of CaCO₃ particles with average diameters of 0.05, 0.6, and 1.0 μm improved the impact fracture energies comparatively. The encapsulation structure of the filler by the grafting elastomer had a detrimental effect on the impact properties because of the strong adhesion between the elastomer and filler and the increasing ligament thickness. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1113–1123, 2005